Greek Grilled Chicken Salad.
Ummm… let’s try that once more. A row full of chopped vegetables and a lemon half does not a lunch make. Especially not for me.
So, meet my new favorite lunch. Again.
Much better. Now that you’ve been properly introduced, feel free to smash your face up against the screen. Making out with chicken salad is okay by me. You might need a napkin though.
Since we’ve already established that I don’t love mayonnaise and really don’t love it in salads, I knew this attempt at chicken salad would be mayo-free. Unless it was my mom’s. But I wouldn’t make that. She makes delish chicken salad and I don’t think it’s any big secret, but food always tastes better when your mom makes it. Unless your mom makes broccoli. Yeah I said it.
This stuff is goooooood.
When tons of feta and marinated chicken and bright lemon and fresh dill are involved, I can deal with a few squares of cucumber and tomato and onion. It’s like… a law of the universe or something.
And if I’m being honest, I must share that this is reason numero dos that you HAVE to make the creamy feta. It’s not necessary for the recipe, but it would be a wise, wise choice. And you don’t want to not be wise, do you?
Greek Grilled Chicken Salad
serves 2-4
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3/4 cup chopped tomato
1/3 cup chopped red onion
3/4 cup chopped cucumber
1/4 cup feta (I used creamy feta, you can use crumbled)
for chicken marinade:
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon lemon zest
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt & pepper
for quick tzatziki
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons chopped cucumber
1 teaspoon fresh dill
salt and pepper, if desired
30 minutes to 2 hours before servings, season chicken with salt and pepper. Place in a ziplock bag or baking dish and cover with the marinade ingredients (oil, lemon, zest, garlic) and marinate. While chicken is marinating, combine the tzatziki ingredients (yogurt, oil, lemon, cucumber, garlic and dill) in a bowl and mix. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside or back in the fridge until ready to use.
Once chicken is ready to cook, heat the grill (or a grill pan) to medium-high heat and grill chicken about 5-6 minutes per side. Set aside and let cool, then cut into chunks. In a large bowl, combine cucumber, tomato, onion and chicken. Add in feta. To bring the salad together, add the tzatziki in 2 tablespoon increments. I only used about 3 tablespoons total, but feel free to add as much as you’d like. Just continue to mix until the salad comes together. Serve on toast or in pitas.
Note: I obviously used crazy feta which added a whole other element of [fabulous] flavor. If you use regular feta, you may want to add in a bit more lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, pepper or even spice. I highly suggest using the crazy feta if you can!
P.S. You’re allowed to serve this for dinner too. Because I said so.
116 Comments on “Greek Grilled Chicken Salad.”
Whoa. What’s that amazing grainy bread you served it on??
It’s Harvest bread from Whole Foods. I’m in love with it!
Does your WFs have the Seeduction bread? That stuff is heavenly!
Not sure! I will check next time. :)
ew! I don’t like mayo either. But Greek yogurt as a sub? I’m all in. This looks like a fantastic lunch to me. I would make a big batch of this and use it on salads, sandwiches, wraps, etc!
That’s what I love about it – so versatile!
Once again I wish Whole Foods would come to Ireland!
Grilling is my absolutely favourite way to prepare chicken – this looks yummy. Love the chargrilled lines :)
Love chicken salad when its flavorful like this and not filled with mayo.
I make something similar! Looks awesome!
This is inspirational! I’ve never made anything like this but it looks so wonderful, I’m inspired now! YUMM!
Um…yum! This is so up my alley…never thought of doing a greek style chicken salad. I love doing open faced sandwiches like that cause it saves on the calories and you still get all the crunchy toast flavor. I made a similar Feta Spread this weekend that had pepperoncini’s instead of the Jalapeno’s, but I will have to try it your way next time.
Oh my gosh, Jessica…you are a culinary genius! I don’t like mayo based salads, either. The tzatziki is a great alternative to mayo, and must add so much flavor to the salad! I love that you used the crazy feta, too! I am making this a.s.a.p., but first I’ve got to get me some of that Harvest bread! :-)
Yes! I have most of the ingredients. Thank you for our dinner idea tonight!
Let me know if you try it. :)
Love the quickie tzatziki! I am impressed that you made a mayo-less chicken salad. And that you made (willingly)…a salad :)
Also shocked you dont like mayo. You like bacon, cheese, avocado, all those dense fatty thick foods but no mayo? Mayo and me are BFFs!
ahh i LOVE chicken salad but HATE mayo so this is PERFECTION! yummm
i ADORE anything with tzaziki sauce! i’m completely drooling…this sounds so delicious.
I wasn’t going to tell you this in fear of being disowned, but I think i’m going to make this with tofu. I’m going to run away now before you yell.
Hahaha I don’t have anything against tofu!
WOW! Taking the amazing crazy feta to a whole new level. Can’t wait to try this recipe, too bad I didn’t have any Crazy Feta leftovers…..
Ooh yum! In my opinion, grilled chicken is by far superior to any other type of chicken, and with your feta recipe.. I guess that makes it crazy superior!
Since I actually have time to enjoy lunch in the summer, I can’t wait to try this!
I swear I was Greek in another lifetime – LOVE the food! Yeah, probably Italian, too.
This would make a great summer dinner, thanks for giving permission. ;-)
Yum!
Put greek, chicken, and salad in the same sentence and I’m there! I’m making this for my lunches this week! Thanks!
That looks amazing!!!!! Feta cheese is another thing I’ll have to try once I’m in the US!
Any excuse to incorporate feta into a meal works for me!
I’m not a mayonnaise person either. I’m so glad to have found you!
I love this! for the most part it is competition Prep friendly so I will be making that chicken asap !
Love tzatziki and love that crazy feta you made before! This is a major Greek flavor explosion!
Mmmm the salad looks delicious but the combo of the salad plus the bread is fantastic!
Looks amazing!! I made your CRAZY FETA on the weekend and it is INCREDIBLE! I happen to have some leftover and I was wondering what to do with it….perfection!! Thanks!
What a beautiful, light and refreshing summertime meal! It sounds delicious! I’m a mayo hater, so I would love this!
What a great idea. I’m a mayo hater too and a tzatziki lover so I mean, obviously I need to make this. It’s fate.
This looks perfect for the summer. Light and satisfying. And I love anything with feta!
Your pictures are so gorgeous!!
Thank you!
subliminal take home message of this post?
must. make. crazy. feta!
=)
Yes, you must!
This is a great dinner idea for one of those days when you wanna eat something light and healthy. I hate mayonnaise too, HATE HATE HATE it. Yes, in caps! But I love yogurt, which is my go to mayo substitute.
Mmm chicken salad with feta sounds frigging amazing! I love the Greek influence. Maybe this will end my unhealthy obsession with falafel wraps…
I love falafel too!
Great salad! Well, I have to admit I am a mayo lover…but, this salad looks so good I could go without from time to time. I HAVE to try the crazy feta for sure!
this looks awesome!! I love finding mayo substitutues. I’m wondering, have you ever tried to make your own mayo? I’ve been afraid of the stuff for years, but I just started culinary school and had to learn to make it. It’s totally different white and not as scary when it’s homemade and mixed with other ingredients (jalapeno pesto mayo?) mmm
I haven’t but I’d probably like it. I like mayo on certain sandwiches and stuff, I just don’t like it in salads!
I love how chunky the chicken is – and how fresh that salad looks! SO much better than store-bought mayo-laden chicken salad ;)
PS – my sister made your whole wheat brown sugar banana pancakes for dinner last night! I’ll send ya the picture when she sends to me!
Awesome!
I have started making basic chicken salads with Greek Yogurt too. You really don’t miss the mayo!
I’m not big on mayo based salads. This looks like a great recipe. Can’t wait to try it.
Yum! I love anything Greek inspired.
Love me a good chicken salad. Delish!
Yum! And where did you get that bread? Between Kath’s great harvest food porn and this, I want bread!
Whole Foods. It said it was called Harvest bread. Best bread ever. Too bad my Whole Foods is like 40 minutes away!
I love, love, love chicken salad. I also LOVE mayo. However I ALSO really like tzatziki sauce, so when I make this awesome recipe for dinner – yes dinner, because it’s so hot here all we want to eat is cold stuff, I will use tzatziki sauce. Brilliant idea! Have to go to whole foods for that bread. A nice, crisp whit wine will work with it, don’t you think?
PS was planning on making your crispy chicken tacos this weekend, but the salad wins.
PPS Your photos just keep getting better and better!
You gotta promise to make the chicken tacos soon… so good! And thank you. :)
What a fun twist on chicken salad, and I LOVE that you used Greek yogurt!!! Yummmm :)
Oh man, this looks so yummy!!! I think this will indeed have to be on my grocery list this week! :D
This looks so yummy, but unfortunately, I am very allergic to jalapenos that are in the Crazy feta. Do you have a suggestion to an alternate ingredient? Or, I guess I can just try it with plain feta.
What about another pepper? Like roasted red peppers maybe? Add some cayenne pepper if you want the spice?
Thanks! I never thought of roasted red peppers! Perfect!!!!
Love love love Greek Salads! I actually just ordered one for lunch, but I like a more traditional one with greens and all that. This looks amazing too tho. A must try! That and the Crazy Feta. I have been having good dreams about that recipe!
Love this! That bread does look amazing too – hoping my WF has it!
For your sake, I hope so too!
So I’m kind of in love with chicken salad and now I’m kind of in love with you for posting this recipe…in the most non creepy sort of way, of course.
And I love that.
Im not that big on mayo either. Its ok, but I’d rather NOT have it. Using greek yogurt instead is genius, especially when you turn it into tzatziki. Quite possibly my favorite sauce ever.
fantastic recipe! I love Greek food so this is a keeper.
this sounds amazing. i’m on a greek food kick lately. can’t wait to try this! YUM!